Bill in Detroit wrote:

J. Clarke wrote:

But what about the environment? Cargo ships burn a lot of fossil fuels.

A lot less than trucks or trains to move the same tonnage.

I suspect that, on a ton / mile basis, trains use less fuel. They aren't
pushing water out of the way. They aren't fighting currents and cross
winds. They haven't nearly the frictional resistance.


Cargo ships don't have to have a fleet of vehicles doing repairs and
maintenance on tracks, nor do they cause other vehicle traffic to stop,
idle for 10 minutes and then accelerate back up to speed when they roll
by.

Pete C.